Erica Lea Photography

Waking Up to Snow

10/30/13

The other morning we woke up to a beautiful, snowy sunrise.

What’s the weather been like where you live?

6 Responses to Waking Up to Snow

Annie
October 30th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Beautiful pictures! Woke up to a heavy fog this morning, which turned into rain. I’m hoping the snow will hold off for as long as possible. ;)
Kristina F
October 30th, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Well, it has been in the 80’s lately here in South Texas. :) But now it is raining and a little cooler. I don’t like cold weather though, so I’m glad I live here. You and I are about as far apart as you can get North and South and still be in the US. :)
Kaylan
November 1st, 2013 at 8:21 am
So beautiful!
Madeleine
November 1st, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Oh, we are still watching the leaves fall! I am sure the snow will make it’s way to us soon, here in the Chicago suburbs. :)
Love the pictures, Erica.
Judy
November 1st, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Lovely photos of your woods. Our weather here in the Chicago area is slowly changing from fall to early winter. We had our first glimpse of snow flurries last week!
Betsy
November 2nd, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I would love to see some snow before Thanksgiving. Right now the mornings are crisp in NW Missouri and the trees are vibrant red, orange and yellow. Breathtaking.

First off, let me thank all of you who purchased items from thredUP through my referral link. Because of YOU, I have received $60 in store credit! With my credits I was able to purchase some seriously adorable items for Helen, and a few for myself as well! In case you’re wondering how it works, if you make a purchase from thredUP (an online used clothing store) by following my referral link, you’ll receive $10 off your first purchase, and I’ll receive a $10 credit. Cool, eh?

Anyway, let’s get on with the haul, shall we?

First up, we have this lovely little knit dress by Egg Baby. I definitely want to store it up for future babies when Helen grows out of it, but she’ll probably be able to wear it as a shirt next fall.

Isn’t this snow suit by Me Jane Baby presh? I love the little ruffle details. Helen will be staying warm in style this winter!

How cute is this little rain jacket by Gymboree? Reuben is all about being prepared for inclement weather, and what better way than in a green frog coat? Reuben is also pleased that it’s an androgynous color (in case we have any boys), but it DOES have bows on the pockets…

And of course I had to get something for myself. I really like the sleeves on this tunic (brand = Max Studio). It’s a bit long on my short frame, so I’ll have to do a bit of altering. I’ll also be wearing a cami underneath for modesty. :)

I also got a brown fleece pea coat for Helen and a zip-up knit sweater for myself (handy for nursing).

I’m quite pleased with everything I purchased.

Do you like to buy things used? Have you found any great deals lately?

1 Response to thredUP Haul!

Rachel
October 26th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
I love Thred Up. I just received my first order a couple of weeks ago with the 20% off they offered and recently made my second. I love this site. It is like the online versio of the best consignment store (a chain): Clothes Mentor. My sister made an order too…and hid it from me because she didn’t want me to know she copied me…pity I could have had a referral :(

8 Months Old

10/16/13

Helen is 8 months old (8 months and 3 days, if you want to be particular).

She continues to love her bath time.

She’s taken to fake smiling, coughing, and crying. Here’s proof of her fakey cry.

Helen likes food again! She’s gets the vast majority of her nutrition from breast milk, but it’s fun to feed her solids every once in a while. So far she’s tried egg yolk, chicken broth, avocado, banana and pumpkin (mixed with grass-fed, organic butter). Here’s a video of her eating pumpkin.

She has been having some MAJOR separation anxiety issues lately. She’s all happy and content while I’m holding her, but if I set her down for one second she loses it. Also, I know she doesn’t have pants on in this photo. That’s because she cries and kicks when I try to change her diaper or put clothes on her. So sometimes I just give up and let her roam without pants. I haven’t let her go without a diaper…yet…

Here are a few more facts about Helen:

She finally got a tooth: her lower right front tooth.
She also decided to (finally) grow some hair. It’s so fun to see it get thicker.
Since she got her tooth she’s been experimenting with more consonant sounds (dada, mama, baba, ect.). She says “mama” when she wants comfort.
Her night time sleeping is actually worse than it was last month. She usually wakes 2-3 times during the night. I haven’t had the heart to makes her go back to sleep without nursing first. I wonder if teething is at the root (no pun intended).
She’s getting better at standing. She can balance for a few seconds and she has even pushed up to standing by herself (no support) a couple of times. I’d be surprised if she isn’t walking by Christmas. But of course it could take her longer to learn than I think.
She loves to look at pictures of babies, including herself. And she coos when she sees her cousin Susan.

And that’s Helen’s 8 month update!

7 Responses to 8 Months Old

Rebecca Lately
October 16th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
What a sweetie!! She has such a pretty smile :)
Kathryn Grace
October 16th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Love that smirky photo… so cute!!
Rebekah
October 17th, 2013 at 9:15 am
She’s a doll! And I bet you’re right about teething as the cause of more frequent waking. That’s what my daughter did… she was sleeping perfectly until the teeth came along. Like you, I just nursed her back to sleep. I figured I’d rather spend five minutes nursing than half an hour listening to her cry. :)
Diane
October 20th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Yes, it’s the teething. Does she have one of the teething rings you can freeze for her to gnaw on? My boys liked that. Of course they also liked gnawing on the furniture and their cribs.
I don’t think she has separation anxiety, Erica. You’re there all the time so she’s testing you to see how much she can get away with. Dress her and give her some toys to play with when you have things to do since she needs to learn to entertain herself. She can look through some cloth-bound books or stack blocks or bang wooden spoons together. She’ll be walking soon and she needs to know who is in charge (That’s you. Not her.) so she doesn’t end up hurting herself by running from you.
This is very important if you should have another child while she is still small. She needs to know that you are the final authority and she can’t break things or hurt others. Kids aren’t bad (although it’s easy to think that when they sink their teeth into your leg), but they live in the moment and can’t think ahead. You have to be ahead of her.
I’m not trying to be bossy, so please don’t take it that way. My kids are grown now and I know trends in childrearing come and go.
Best of luck!
Diane
Arianna
October 22nd, 2013 at 8:39 am
Oh my, she’s so sweet, in the third picture she’s just… awwww :)
Cheers from Italy ^_^
Arianna
October 22nd, 2013 at 8:42 am
oops I meant greetings, lol
Erica Lea
November 12th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Thanks, everyone! :D
Diane: I don’t think you’re being bossy – I have lots to learn! :)

Katelyn’s Seniors

10/7/13

Yesterday I got to shoot this lovely lady: my little sister!

It was a gorgeous October day. We’ve been having lots of rain lately, so the lighting has been less than ideal the past few days. We finally got a sunny day, perfect capturing Katelyn’s seniors.

We might do some more photos another day, but these were so pretty I just couldn’t wait to share them with you.

Hope you have an awesome day!

Erica

6 Responses to Katelyn’s Seniors

Beth
October 7th, 2013 at 11:00 am
Oooh, love the lighting and the pretty girl amidst autumn splendor! :)
Megan
October 7th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Beautiful! Love them!
Kathryn Grace
October 7th, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Lovely! So fallish!
jean
October 7th, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Your sister is so pretty! I love her outfit and the gorgeous fall colors in the background. It’s amazing how much your love for your family shines through your photos when you do family portraits.
Nicole | Feeding This Family
October 8th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Beautiful subject and the lighting is gorgeous, takes my breath away honestly.
Teresa
October 11th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Ditto to what everyone said. :-) Love the lighting.

Wet Autumn Day

9/28/13

I do love a good wet, gloomy day, especially when the weather begins to turn chilly. It’s just so cozy to be “trapped” indoors.

I took Helen outside in the rain, wrapped in my hoodie, to get the mail. She seemed perplexed by the wetness hitting her face. Seeing how lovely everything was in the misty rain, I set Helen back inside for Reuben to watch while I captured the beauty of the trees just beginning to change color.

Back inside, I fixed myself a cup of black tea and a Chai Gingerbread Bar with whipped cream while Helen took her second nap.

What did you do this Saturday? Are you excited for chilly weather?

8 Responses to Wet Autumn Day

Liz
September 28th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
I can’t wait for the chilly weather to arrive. Cozy fires, hot tea, spicy soups… I love it all. Here in the bluegrass, it’s still hitting upper 70s in the afternoons, though the mornings are getting chillier. Despite this, I have been super excited for fall and doing “fall” things regardless of the weather. Made a lavender Earl Grey latte and helped my brother make a paella, though I am hoping to fit in time for some pumpkin muffins.. :) Looks like autumn is in full force for you guys, though!
In retrospect, I have no idea how fall-ish making paella is, but it’s yummy.:P
(Auntie) Jean Plate
September 29th, 2013 at 2:41 am
Thanks, Erica, for the beautiful pictures and letting us “peek into the window of your life” now and then!
I enjoy seeing Helen grow! Thanks, too, for the pictures of the horse (is that old Cody?) and the maple leaves! (The only maple I’ve gotten to survive here in Alaska is about 18 inches high and is about 10 years old!) I loved seeing the colors in the rain.
Today we moved a small mountain of top soil…well, at least part of it…to cover the excavation that happen at our well and around the new house for Grandma. Oh, we also winterized the bus and motorhome, so yes, we are mostly ready for winter. (One more garden to till.) There’s fresh snow on the mountains but no snow here yet. The sky tonight looked very much like it will be here soon.
This evening we took the kids out for a progressive supper! First stop, our favorite Mexican restaurant for chips and salsa. Then on to our favorite burger place for wings and 1 hamburger with fries (shared between the 4 of us) and desert was at McDonalds…shakes, McFlury and a smoothy! It was a fun evening.
Nat @ Made in Home
September 29th, 2013 at 11:33 am
Beautiful pictures! I love the Autumn!
Sarah
September 30th, 2013 at 10:40 am
So pretty! I love rainy autumn days.
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:00 am
Liz: Yes, as soon as the weather isn’t blazing hot, I’m in a fall mood. :) Oh, all of your food sounds amazing! Now I really want paella – it’s been YEARS since we’ve had it. Maybe I can convince Mom to make some. :D
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:04 am
Auntie Jean: Yes, that’s old Cody (from Auntie Barb). I loved the little droplets of rain on his “whiskers.” :)
Sounds like you guys had a busy Saturday! I think it’s awesome what you’re doing for Ric’s mom.
That sounds like a fun supper. I like to sample lots of different kinds of foods.
Thank you for sharing about your day – it transports me to Alaska. :)
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:06 am
Nat: Thank you! Yes, Autumn is my favorite season. :)
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:06 am
Sarah: Thank you! Me too. So cozy. :)

Casting On: Killington Scarf

9/17/13

I’ve started knitting this beautiful scarf pattern. I can’t wait to wear it this fall/winter.

Helen is very interested in all my knitting endeavors. She would LOVE to get her hands on my work.

I’ll update you when I cast off and block!

Linking up at Yarn Along

12 Responses to Casting On: Killington Scarf

Rebecca Lately
September 17th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
That is so pretty :)
Carissa @ Pretty/Hungry
September 18th, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Helen is such a cutie! And I love her name!
Colleen Moran
September 24th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Oooh, what a cute baby and what is that amazing yarn??
Teresa Frei
September 25th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Beautiful! Wish I could knit!
Nat @ Made in Home
September 29th, 2013 at 11:32 am
I love the yarn you chose! And what a great pattern – had to check it out on Ravelry. Also very impressed you are leaving your little one near knitting needles – mine would put them in his mouth straight away.. Coming from Yarn Along
CathieJ
September 29th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Beautiful yarn and I love the pattern you picked. What a cute baby too!
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:06 am
Nat: Oh, Helen would definitely put them in her mouth if I didn’t watch her every second. :P Yes, I love the yarn! Can’t wait to wear the scarf.
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:06 am
CathieJ: Aw, thanks! :)
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:07 am
Teresa: Thank you!
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:07 am
Colleen: It’s Jojoland in “Melody”
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:08 am
Carissa: Aw, thanks! I love her so much. :)
Erica Lea
October 2nd, 2013 at 10:08 am
Rebecca: Thank you!

7 Months Old!

9/13/13

Helen is seven months old today!

This little rascal is getting into all sorts of trouble lately. She’s an expert at crawling now and loves to explore everywhere. But particularly in the most inconvenient places. Like the trash can.

I can’t believe that she’s already starting to pull up to standing. The other day I was sitting next to her, reading the manual for my new (old) sewing machine. When I looked up, she had pulled herself up onto the window. She’s definitely a very motivated baby.

One awesome thing she’s started doing: going to bed early and sleeping through the night. She still wakes up at 3:00 sometimes, but mostly she’ll sleep from 9 PM to 5 AM. I usually just feed her and put her back in the crib (or keep her in bed with us if I’m too lazy or want some cuddling).

I decided to remove all of the breakable jars from the bottom of this bookshelf and set up a play station for her. She can sit and play by herself for quite a while now (if she’s in a good mood). Hallelujah!!

But I still need to keep an eye on her.

She was contentedly playing with her spatula the other day while I was trying to tidy up our pigsty house. Everything went quiet. I quickly moved in to check on Helen. She had something squishy in her hands. Turns out it was a tiny dead frog.

I had a bit of a freak out moment.

“Aaaahghljkjsdk!! — It’s okay honey. It’s okay. — Gaaaaaah ewewewewew!!”

Later that same day I left her in the bedroom for a moment. I saw her eagerly crawling towards something out of my sight and decided I should investigate. She was just starting to pick up a (very dirty) diaper that I had forgotten to toss into the diaper pail. Thankfully I caught her before she could shove her hand into it. Grossgrossgross.

“Can you believe she’s almost seven months old?” I asked Reuben last night.

“That was a LONG seven months,” he replied.

And it has been.

It’s been a crazy hard adventure.

But it’s so rewarding. I love this little girlie more than I can tell. It’s so much fun to see her personality start to show.

I have continued to take a picture of Helen once a week. It will be fun to put the pictures together into a collage on her first birthday.

Here she is from 0-7 months old.

Little dolly.

Have a lovely day!